Institute Publications

As the first two years of post-independence transition have demonstrated, Montenegro has enormous potential. Economic growth during 2006-2007 was exceptional; the country received international support for its independence, accelerated its structural reforms and achieved significant progress in its negotiations with the EU regarding its eventual EU membership. However, the boom in the construction, tourism, retail, telecommunications, and banking sectors did not translate into improvements in the human development opportunities of the poor and socially excluded.

The Government of Montenegro has a number of strategic goals to address. It has to sustain its high rates of economic growth, address the trade deficit issue and focus on export-oriented industries, strengthen the rule of law and democratic institutions, combat corruption, and improve the standard of living of its citizens. The Government is also working towards compliance with European standards. In the area of social policies, the Government of Montenegro declared its commitment to provide adequate health, education, housing and other social services to its citizens and to promote social inclusion. In developing and implementing social policies, the Government has to make more effective use of its available resources to provide far-reaching and higher quality services and use its available resources more creatively, by enlisting the support and involvement of local authorities, the private sector and civil society, in service delivery.